EPL: Man City face crucial Stoke clash ahead of Real showdown

Manchester United Kingdom Manchester City will warm up for one of the biggest games in their history with a less glamourous but no less significant clash against Stoke on SaturdayCity are just days away from playing 10time European champions Real Madrid in their first Champions League semifinal with the first leg at Eastlands on Tuesday Lifting the trophy would be a landmark moment for the club owned and bankrolled since 2008 by the Abu Dhabi United Group But despite their spending power and the talent in Citys squad the current domestic season has not gone according to planManuel Pellegrinis third placed side have failed to mount a Premier League title challenge in the Chileans final campaign in charge before being replaced by Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola With four games to go they are not yet certain of securing the topfour finish that would guarantee them Champions League action next season making Stokes visit to Manchester an important fixture in its own right even so close to the Real showdownKevin de Bruyne believes it might have been a different story if City two points ahead of fifth placed Manchester United had kept their key players fit at critical stages of the season The Belgium international who scored Citys winning goal against Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League quarterfinals shortly after returning from a knee injury said I will not say we would be in the title race without injury problemsBut I think we would have some more points because we didnt have the opportunity to rest some players Some players were also on the edge of being tired or being injured so it is not easy all the time Now almost everybody is back and it gives a different feeling in the groupAttractiveAs well as the return of de Bruyne who has scored 15 goals since signing from Wolfsburg for a club record Acircpound55 million 78 million last August City also have captain and defensive leader Vincent Kompany and winger Raheem Sterling back from injury in a nearly fullyfit squad David Silva may not play against Stoke as City who are looking for a fourth win in five league games after dropping points in a 11 draw at struggling Newcastle in midweek continue to rest their midfield playmaker who has been nursing an ankle problem for the clash against RealFormer City manager Mark Hughes faces to his old club in charge of a Stoke side whose recent dip in form has all but ended any hopes they had for European qualification Stoke have won just once in their last six games leaving Hughes to start planning for next seasonThe future of winger Marko Arnautovic remains unclear with Stoke still awaiting a response from the Austrian to a second contract offer His current deal has just a year left to run meaning Stoke might look to cash in if they cannot agree an extensionBut Hughes is playing down the prospect of Peter Crouch leaving despite the veteran striker claiming this week that he might look elsewhere for regular firstteam football Sometimes you have to be fair to players if something comes around and it seems attractive to them Hughes saidYou have to look at that but it has to be right for the club and we never allow players to leave if we feel it weakens us and stops us having enough options to compete in the Premier League Were not encouraging anybody to think they can come and take Pete because although I probably havent shown it to him in terms of appearances he is still very much part of what were doing here